I’ll be reading with three magnificent journals and dozens of brilliant writers at offsite readings in DC during AWP. This is my first AWP, but I hear that these readings tend to be magnificent parties with great opportunities to meet other artists you admire, in addition to hearing them share their work. Hope to see you there!

On December 16 at 7:00 pm, LangLab in South Bend, Indiana is hosting “Celebrating Emily Dickinson: An Evening of Poetry and Music.” Soprano Karen Dickerson will be singing Aaron Copland’s “Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson,” and I’ll be reading some new poems I wrote just for the event. I’m really excited to be part of this. I hope you’ll come!

I’m doing two readings this Wednesday, April 27 in South Bend. The first is a reading for Analecta, the IU South Bend student literary journal. I have 3 poems and an art piece in this year’s journal. That reading starts at 5 pm in the IUSB library atrium; I’ll be reading my pieces from the journal, and I’ll start at around 6:20.

After that, I’m headed to The Well, a not-for-profit coffeehouse in South Bend’s River Park neighborhood (just east down Mishawaka Avenue from IUSB) for an open mic that starts at 7:30. I’ll be reading at 8:00 or so and will be reading some new work that I’m really excited about!

My poems “Self-Portrait as Infinite and Infinitesimal” and “Why I Won’t Yet Say I Love You” appear in the forthcoming issue of Blotterature, and they’re having a release party on March 19 at 6:00 pm (Central time) in Highland, Indiana. And I get to read! Here are the details – hope to see you there!

B-Story Books will be holding its second Open Mic this Sunday, November 15 from 3-5 pm Central time at Pokro Brewing in Griffith, Indiana. This time they’re featuring widely-published poet Bill Yarrow, who read at the This is Poetry Vol. II launch party last weekend and whom I really enjoyed. I’ll be reading, too. Bring something to read or play!

Once in a fit of pique, she poured
vinegar on the anniversary roses
which withered in his seeing. In
retribution, he became incontinent.
That made her, she who misunder-
stood love, love him more, and him,
he who misunderstood marriage,
respect her less. Is there a recipe for
lasting happiness? Look, perhaps, to
applesauce. The apples of attraction.
The sugar of indulgence. The water of
conduction. Everything improves over
time. Everything in the world. Except
the consolidated body. Except the
orphan garden. Except ripe fruit.

News! I’ll be reading at the Blue Heron Inn in LaPorte, Indiana on November 7 at the release party for Volume 2 of This Is Poetry. The party is from 6-9, involves drinking, poeming, AND some brave souls (probably including me) will be in costume. I’ll be reading some new, never-before-been-heard stuff! Huzzah! Please come support This Is Poetry and costumed drunkenness.

On October 1, IU South Bend’s literary journal, Analecta, is opening (to students) for submissions. I’ve been asked to read at the open mic launch party, and I’ll be kicking things off right at 6. I hope those of you in the area will stop by and say hello.